First ride on the Viper

akrievins

akrievins

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Joined
Jan 19, 2006
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588
Age
43
Location
Mississauga
I took my sled out for a quick spin tonight on our road. There was good ice cover, and just enough snow. It was really weird driving around my street.
I noticed what I think is darting. Do you guys all run the original carbides, or do you replace them with something else like dual carbides? Could it have just been the conditions?
Other than that, this sled has some serious power. I didn't go over 60kms, but man, this has some go.
 

I replaced my stock worn out ones with 9" carbides and loved the turning..no need to pick your sled up and mve it around at the gas station, also darting isn' an issue now.
 
EricMichael said:
I replaced my stock worn out ones with 9" carbides and loved the turning..no need to pick your sled up and mve it around at the gas station, also darting isn' an issue now.
Click to expand...

I'm looking at the RD catalogue now... so which ones do all of you suggest?
I see ATS, Studboy, Woodys. Single or dual?
 
stick with the single carbide I tried the dual on an sxr and didn;t like to much. I also had simons skis on an old sxr with the wide dual runners on each side of the ski and loved it.If your running 96 or 144 6 inch single would be fine.i'm using the ats carbides
 
right now it's the stock 03 track, and stock carbides. I think I'll change the carbides this year, and possibly the track next. But I really don't like the darting, as my Phazer wasn't doing that. What kinda carbide (length) comes stock with this sled?
I'll probably be putting 96 or 144 studs. Most likely 144. I know I don't need more than that.
 
Use the darting fix in the tech section. (Shim) It works and it's free.
 
akrievins said:
right now it's the stock 03 track, and stock carbides. I think I'll change the carbides this year, and possibly the track next. But I really don't like the darting, as my Phazer wasn't doing that. What kinda carbide (length) comes stock with this sled?
I'll probably be putting 96 or 144 studs. Most likely 144. I know I don't need more than that.
Click to expand...
Stock has 4 inch carbide, take some pressure off the front end and this should help with darting alot. If your running 96 or 144 6 inch would be fine for carbide length.
 
I took the pressure off my front end last year and the downside is your carbides don't bite as much and you will get push in the corners. I ended up hitting a stump and cost me a trailing arm. I added the pressure back. I would try the shims
 
The woody's dualy's will eliminate the darting, but it will also push more in the corners. Great for my wife's sled, but not for me.


akrievins said:
I took my sled out for a quick spin tonight on our road. There was good ice cover, and just enough snow. It was really weird driving around my street.
I noticed what I think is darting. Do you guys all run the original carbides, or do you replace them with something else like dual carbides? Could it have just been the conditions?
Other than that, this sled has some serious power. I didn't go over 60kms, but man, this has some go.
Click to expand...
 
stud boys work the best for single bars that i have tried

if you stud the track 144 only do it on the inside or you will destroy your track.

only use woodys studs as they are the only stud that holds the hole together and not try to pry it bigger.

using ski preasure to stop darting is like putting a paper bag over a 400lb woman, doesnt really address the real problem.

line the front end up, good 6in carbide, shim the ski, sled will go great.

as for carbides, i recomend f7 long carbides. they are offset dualies. they work great like duallies do but dont pack full of ice and fail like the others do.
on your 03 viper you should have aluminum backer on the ski, the carbides will bolt right on if you drill one hole in each ski. also, if the ski is warn alot, you may want to flatten the bottom of the ski out a little so the plate sits flat. these come in a right and left hand.

the viper handles the best with little preload on the front springs. better with a venture sway bar.

use the alignment method below
 
Well, I'll go the simple and cheap route first. Some great info on this site guys. Didn't even know about the tech section until a few days ago. I printed the two articles off and went to work. I've done one ski so far. I tried using a 1/4" shim first, but couldn't get the ski back on. Then reduced it to 1/8", and it fit tight. I'll do the other one tomorrow and see how it sits on the garage floor.
To be honest, it doesn't seem like this will do anything. Just seems too good to be true. Who's done this so far? Did you notice it right away? what thickness shim did you use? Looking for any imput.
 
I have a 03 viper. I rode the sled with the shims on the stock ski and it still darted for me. I sold the stock skis and added a pair of c&a pro advantage, with 6" stud boy shapper bars and berstrom ski savers. The dart is all but gone.
 
EricMichael said:
I did the shim kit on an old 97 sx and what a diffrence..
Click to expand...
Do you remeber how thick the shim was?
Didn't seem to help Viper7's sled out, so just want to maek sure.
 
I did the shim on my stock skis and it did wonders for me as well. I used a old piece of drive belt I guess its about an inch thick ? I had a hell of a time getting the ski on as well .
I have since bough some C&A skis they work better than stock but dart a little . I will try and shim the c&a's and see if it makes a difference like it did with the stock skis.
Also try and align your skis ! Thats the first thing along with shimming your skis that i would do.
 
1/4 works great on a stock viper, if it still darts, your front end is not lined up correctly.

you dont have to take the ski off to do it. just cut the rubber a little wider than the spindle opening, then have someone lift the ski up from the front, the space will open up then bow the rubber down and slide it in. the extra width will hold it in without any other thing to do to it.
 
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